The three (point five) soldiers of the outer solar system have arrived!

[incousinswithyou]

[ audio ]

[ sup, everybody? Have an abortive (?) attempt at gathering news and information because somebody can’t speak candidly if her life depended on it. ]

We have been gone for a while, hm? Seeing how the place is still standing, I suppose nothing of consequence has happened.

Who are you talking to…?

[ this voice doesn’t appear to have heard that former one. ] Anyway, we’re a little behind. If someone could fill us in, we’d appreciate it.

[ another voice chimes in, though it’s not directed at the band, instead she appears to be addressing the question. ] The rest of Union, as a matter of fact. [ she pauses and then adds. ] You should say hello, Hotaru.

[ there’s a short pause. The entire city? How? ] Ah, hello? [ these people are crazy. ]

Good grief.

[ action, around Union ]

[ so, here’s a mildly bedraggled group winding their way through the streets of Union. It’s obvious from their clothing that they’ve been away for a while. Michiru and Haruka had actually managed to be away for at least a month, and while natural fabulousness can cover up almost anything, Michiru, at the very least, is counting down the minutes till she gets to soak away the (figurative) dirt of the road and take over the bathroom for at least three hours. The other two, Hotaru and Setsuna, had joined along the way... so to speak. But they still looked weary from the trip.

Alas, duty calls. Before they can get back home, they’ll need to outfit Hotaru with various necessities. Oh, and make sure she doesn’t go crazy and eat people.

...Make that a four hour soak, when Michiru finally gets back. Either way, the group’s going to be out and about the entire city for quite a bit. ]

Comments

ACTION STUFF!

[threemoms]

[ Hotaru is tired and sore. She's never walked so far in her life.

Obviously. Since she spent most of it locked up in a lab.

The city would be an amazing mass of sights and sounds that she could only vaguely remember, practically brand new to her. It would be an amazing place to explore and wonder at.

If she weren't so tired.

As it was, she was wearily glancing at the adults leading the way, ignoring the towers shooting up around them. ]

So where are we heading?

[timeywimeyorb]

[While she had not be absent for quite as long, Setsuna did leave her job in quite a rush. She hoped the other Researchers would be able to forgive her and she was still trying to figure out a way to explain everything. At least now she would have a chance to think of something before reporting back to her assignment the next day.

In the meantime, Setsuna would attempt to enjoy herself as she bonded with her new...friends might not be the right word just yet.

Setsuna looks down at the smallest of her new companions.]

We need to get you some things if we're going to look after you here in Union. Clothes, a Warp Band, toiletries, and other essential items.

[She glances at the other women.]

What should be our first stop do you think? Unless we're heading somewhere else first.

[She knows how tired they must all be.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ "The Union Divine Theater" is what Haruka would like to say, but she's known this entire trek that she's the one being difficult. She will do her best to rise above her biases, then, and focus on the actual most rational course of action. ]

There's clothing stores on the way to the theater. We'll get the essentials, then report.

[ ....come to think of it, they were getting a new commander, weren't they? This should be a good test of his mettle right off the bat. She lifts her head, eyes scanning for shops while the rest of her faces forward. Over this. She's...over this. Yeah. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[she bites back a sigh as she flips off the intranet function. C'mon, Haruka. They can handle this.

Nonetheless, Michiru spares a smile for Hotaru.] We don't exactly have much in your size, so we'll pick some things up before we finally go home.

[threemoms]

[ That makes sense to Hotaru. The fight back at the lab ended up destroying her room, and she hadn't been able to salvage much before leaving. So a stop at a store or two, then back to the theater.

While the adults haven't exactly been open, honest, or forthcoming with the girl, she's picked up enough from their conversations to figure out that this theater was their group's base of operations. ]

That sounds good. Thank you. [ Hotaru didn't trust the women, but she at least knew that her well-being was in their hands. She could give a "thank you." ]

[timeywimeyorb]

[Setsuna nods, as if that settles things. She wants to try to keep things light, but seeing as she was raised in seclusion and has only recently been able to rejoin society herself, she's not exactly confident as to how.]

We won't always have to shop for clothes though. I can make things too...but this will certainly be quicker.

[No sense in Hotaru having to wait around for new outfits. Although, Setsuna's been eyeing the girl and already has a few designs in mind she would like to try. She keeps this to herself though and adds.]

I know where we should stop I think. They'll have a wide selection and their prices are very good and the clothes well made, too.

[Not that Setsuna worried much about money, but hey a deal was a deal.]

[Action, when they return to the theater. 1/2]

[lifeissuffering]

[Ogami, of course, had been given the numbers of all members of the Divine Defense Force beforehand and had them registered in his warp band, so he knew in advance they were coming. By the time the group returns to the theater, he will be there to greet them, still wearing his ticket-taker uniform but with the straight and upright stance of a military man. He greets them with a salute]

Greetings, Ms. Kaioh, Ms. Tenoh, and Ms. Meioh. It is good to see you have all returned safely.

[2/2]

[flowerofsendai]

[Sakura is a bit less formal than the man standing beside her, dressed in her usual pink and red yukata. She smiles gently, recognizing at least one of them. She doesn't quite have anything to add, but felt the need to be there to greet them as well.]

[incousinswithyou]

[a serene smile] We're glad to be back.

[oh right] This is Hotaru Tomoe.

[and there's absolutely no explanation as to why the kid of the guy they were sent to take out is with them. In fact, this is the face of a woman who is ready to kill for a shower and clean clothes. If Haruka is going to slow things down by playing around with the new commander...]

action;

[tinytactician]

[Close to the Habitats is a little Ralts, sitting on a bench and cooing what appears to be a lullaby to a tiny pink Espurr. When the group passes, she pauses, then waves an arm, sending out a Rallll! of hello.]

[threemoms]

Oh! Hello there. [ As a shifter, Hotaru talks to Pokémon like they were human. Actually, she's pretty much spent her life talking to nothing but Pokémon. So when she talks to the Ralts, it comes much easier and more casually than when she speaks with Michiru, Haruka, or Setsuna.

Still, she doesn't speak too loudly. It looks like the Ralts is trying to get the Espurr to sleep, after all. ]

[incousinswithyou]

[oh hey, look at that cutie. When Hotaru immediately goes over to say hi, Michiru follows suit, mostly to keep an eye on the kid.

To the Ralts:] And how are you?

[Michiru is no shifter, but at least she's part psychic.]

[tinytactician]

[The little Ralts looks up, swinging her feet and smiling happily. She's fine, but tired of babysitting. Is Michiru interested in taking over? :D?]

[tinytactician]

[All good, really -- little Espurr doesn't want to sleep. She wants to stand up and stare at Hotaru with wide, curious eyes.

Then she holds up her arms. Pick her up plz.]

[actsmagnificent]

You're the expert.

[ Since...apparently she is. They haven't really discussed things much, but if Setsuna wants to look after the kid that makes things much more convenient. Haruka starts thinking of all the other things a person in Union might need. If they're actually going to try integrating this girl into society, she needs to contribute. (See, Michiru? She'll be okay!) ]

I can pick up a warp band while we're at it.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka didn't bother dragging her uniform out of her bedroll for this, but she is standing at attention. New guy looks a little young, but she has a report to make. She'll figure him out later.

She stands up a little taller. ] Pleasure to meet you, Commander. We successfully eliminated the threat to Union, and two hostages were rescued.

[ That's her story and she is sticking to it. She wants to have this over with too, Michiru. ]

Action; around the city

[moemoetentacles]

[As they're walking around getting their bearings, they'll likely notice a weird little kid walking around with three ice cream cones being carried along in three of said tentacles. They appear to be chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. She takes turns licking each one, and every once in a while one of the other tentacles snakes around to wipe away a little bit of melted ice cream to stop it from dripping down the cone. She isn't really watching where she's going in her enjoyment, though, so it's quite likely she'll bump into one of them along the way.]

[incousinswithyou]

[oh, is that how it is? They're waiting on the others, so you've picked a fine time to do this, but still.]

It's wonderful to see how mature and trustworthy you are, to have all this responsibility.

[incousinswithyou]

That would be ideal. [huuh. Setsuna certainly seems to be getting into it.

Alright. Well, might as well go with Setsuna and the child. Better keep an eye on the newcomers.

To Haruka:] We'll meet you at the store. [she'll send you the name of the place when they get there.]

[threemoms]

[ Hotaru honestly isn't paying all that much attention on where she's going either. She's got adults to follow and keep her from walking into stuff. And, more importantly, this city I'd completely new to her. Sure, she was born here, but she had no real memories of it. So she was trying to discreetly take in the sights as they walked to their next destination. Some of her previous road weariness had left her, leaving her able to enjoy the sights.

And so it was perfectly understandable that she walked STRAIGHT into Squid Girl. Not a bump into, not a brush against. Head-on collision.

Hotaru fell right on her butt, butt she was quick to respond, at least. ] Oh my gosh, I'm SO sorry!

[threemoms]

[ Hotaru weighs her options. On one hand, she really wanted some decent rest. Rest that didn't involve roughing it. So her first thought was to be in and out of whatever store they went to. But being in and out meant letting the adults have their way. On the other hand, none of the adults would choose the kind of clothing she would like. She could tell. And she'd have to live with it.

No. That was unacceptable. She'd have to choose. It would just take a little longer. It's okay, Hotaru, you can do it. ]

Lead the way, then.

1/2

[moemoetentacles]

Whoooooaaaaaaa!

[Squid Girl is jostled hard enough that the ice cream all goes flying, and she falls backward as well. More concerned for the state of her snack than the other girl for the time being, she quickly whips her tentacles around to catch each scoop in the cones as they fall.

Except for one, which lands on her head.]

2/2

[moemoetentacles]

...Hey! Watch where you're going!

[She says as the chocolate begins running down the front of her face.]

[incousinswithyou]

[well, this is interesting. Michiru elegantly sidesteps the whole debacle with Hotaru and just watches for a moment.]

Three cones at once? Wouldn't you just run the risk of having them all melt?

[because that's the important thing to ask about here, Michiru. Not the tentacles or anything.]

[moemoetentacles]

Not if you eat them fast enough.

[...Y'know, after she's wiped away the one she dropped before.]